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BBC episodes

  • Transgender women athletes banned from female Olympic events
    The International Olympic Committee says women's events at the 2028 Los Angeles Games will be restricted to biological females, after years of controversy over transgender participation. Also: President Trump has again pushed back his threat to start bombing Iranian energy plants, giving Tehran ten more days to open the Strait of Hormuz. An initial deadline was supposed to expire on Friday. Lawyers for the former Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores argue they should be allowed to use Venezuelan state funds to pay for their defence against drug trafficking-related charges; Paul McCartney announces his first new album in more than five years; and the Manchester City striker Erling Haaland donates a rare Viking book to the town in Norway where he grew up.

    The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight.
    Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment.
    Get in touch: [email protected]
    32 min
  • Deaf Umrah
    Islamic religious practice is deeply entwined with sound, from the call to prayer to memorising the Quran; learning to recite the holy text is very much an oral tradition relying on listening and repetition. All this poses a unique challenge for deaf Muslims. In November 2025, a group of pilgrims from the United Kingdom travelled to Mecca for Umrah, supported throughout in British Sign Language. Through reflections from presenter Zainam Bostan and pilgrims, the programme explores faith, belonging and accessibility, and asks what changes when religious teaching is explained visually, not only heard. The programme follows them from the first sight of the Kaaba to the press of the crowds during Tawaf.
    31 min
  • Meta shares slide after landmark ruling on social media addiction
    Meta shares slide after landmark ruling on social media addiction. Shares of Alphabet, Google's parent company, were also down but not as sharp as Meta stock. Jurors found that Meta, which owns Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp, and Google, owner of YouTube, intentionally built addictive social media platforms that harmed the 20-year old's mental health. We look at the numbers and find out what investors are thinking.

    The global energy crisis is already wreaking havoc on economies across Asia, and the impact could soon be felt worldwide. It’s not just about higher cooking gas bills or queues at petrol stations, as Will Bain has been finding out. And what happens when you let artificial intelligence take over your holiday plans?

    We hear from one travel columnist who decided to find out by handing a two-night seaside break over to Google’s Gemini, with no guidebooks, no travel agent, and no help from friends.

    (Picture: Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg departs the office of U.S. Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) following a meeting at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 26, 2026. Credit: REUTERS/Nathan Howard).
    28 min
  • Olympic women's sport will be limited to biological females
    The International Olympic Committee (IOC) says eligibility will be determined by a 'once-in-a-lifetime' sex test, which would prevent transgender women and those with differences in sexual development (DSD) who have gone through male puberty from competing in women's events. We hear from former Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies who supports the move, and UN Special Rapporteur Alexandra Xanthaki who opposes it.

    Also on the programme: Should foreign tourists visiting our museums be charged for entry? And the hunt is on in Hampshire for Samba, a nine-month-old capybara, who escaped Marwell Zoo over a week ago.
    41 min
  • Trump: US will be Iran's 'worst nightmare' if there's no peace plan
    State media in Iran say officials have sent their response to a fifteen-point US plan to end the war and are now awaiting an American reply. Speaking at the White House, President Trump again insisted that Iran was "begging" for a deal despite repeated denials in Tehran.

    Also on the programme, lawyers have tussled over how to fund the defence of the ousted Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro at his second court hearing since his capture by US troops; and, the IOC has banned transgender women from all Olympic women's sports.

    (President Trump hosts cabinet meeting at the White House, Washington, USA - 26 Mar 2026. WILL OLIVER/POOL/EPA/Shutterstock)
    51 min
  • Israel claims to have killed key Iranian naval commander
    Israel says it's killed a top Iranian naval commander, responsible for overseeing the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, while President Trump tells Iran to get serious about negotiations. We hear from a supporter of the government in Tehran.

    Also in the programme: former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is due to appear in court in New York today for only the second time since his capture at the beginning of January - we hear how his country’s been doing since his departure; and a new exhibition in London explores experiences and perceptions of ageing, from adolescence to older age - through art, science and popular culture.
    50 min
  • Israel says it's killed an Iranian naval commander
    The US military says an Israeli airstrike that killed the Iranian revolutionary guard's naval commander, Alireza Tangsiri, "makes the region safer". Israel's defence minister says he was directly responsible for blocking the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has not confirmed his death. We look at how the Middle East conflict is affecting daily lives in countries as far apart as Kenya and the Philippines. In other news, a lavish welcome for the leader of Belarus in North Korea. And a sunscreen scandal in Australia prompts a rethink.
    29 min
  • Meta and Alphabet shares fall following social media trial defeat
    A California jury found Meta and YouTube designed addictive products that harmed young people. The plaintiff was awarded damages of $6m; Meta to pay 70% and YouTube the remainder.

    Transport workers in the Philippines are on strike over the price of fuel driven by surging oil prices as the Middle East continues. The Filipino government which declared an energy state of emergency this week has introduced fuel subsidies and free bus rides for affected commuters, but protesters say the measures are not enough.

    And the boss of Air Canada is under pressure to resign, after releasing a condolence message for the recent deaths of two pilots in English only. One of the pilots killed in Sunday's collision at LaGuardia Airport was from French-speaking Quebec.
    10 min
  • Kenya downplays fuel shortage fears amid Iran war
    Authorities in Kenya have assured the public that the country has enough fuel supply in the wake of global supply shortages caused by US-Israel Iran war. Kenya is among the African countries where buyers have been reporting a fuel shortage alongside South Africa, Egypt and the Democratic Republic of Congo. We look at the impact of the crisis in the Middle East on Africa's oil supply.

    Also - we speak with British-Nigerian DJ Cuppy about balancing a career in entertainment and pursuing academic goals.

    Presenter : Nkechi Ogbonna
    Producers: Keikantse Shumba, Bella Twine and Daniel Dadzie
    Technical Producer: David Nzau
    Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga
    Editors: Samuel Murunga and Maryam Abdalla
    24 min

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